Olympic 200m bronze medalist Brittany Brown delivered a powerful statement at the Rome Diamond League on Friday night.
The 29-year-old American sprinter displayed her speed and finesse, clinching victory in the women’s 200m with an impressive time of 22.00 seconds, leaving her competitors in the dust.
Brown’s performance not only secured her a spot in the Diamond League final alongside formidable athletes like Daryll Neita, Mujinga Kambundji, and Anavia Battle, but it also solidified her as a top contender on the global stage this season.
Reflecting on her race, Brown shared her satisfaction and revealed her mindset moving forward.
“I ran a good race, I just put something together tonight. That is something I am happy about. Having won an Olympic medal, I can approach the rest of the season as fun. I can run more relaxed, but it is focused-relaxed,” Brown said after the race.
Brown’s victory in Rome came at the expense of some fierce competition. Fellow American sprinter Anavia Battle finished in second place, setting a season-best time of 22.27 seconds.
Great Britain’s Daryll Neita rounded out the top three, crossing the finish line in 22.46 seconds.
Despite the stiff competition, Brown remained unfazed and used the race as an opportunity to fine-tune her performance ahead of the Diamond League final.
“I still want to run fast. What I expect from the Diamond League final is to dominate. Again, it is about putting together a good race. My career goal would be to win a global gold. I have the bronze from the Olympics and silver from the World Champs in Doha; I need to complete that collection,” she added.
The 200m event in Rome was stacked with talent and the race served as a testament to the depth of competition in women’s sprinting.
Behind Brown, Battle, and Neita, Jessika Gbai from the Ivory Coast showcased her speed, finishing fourth with a time of 22.51 seconds.
Swiss sprinter Mujinga Kambundji, another strong contender, secured fifth place, clocking in at 22.53 seconds.
American sprinter Jenna Prandini followed in sixth place, recording a time of 22.67 seconds, further highlighting the depth of talent within the U.S. sprinting ranks.
Maboundou Kone of the Ivory Coast and Britain’s Amy Hunt finished seventh and eighth, with times of 22.84 seconds and 23.14 seconds, respectively.
Competing on home soil Italy’s Dalia Kaddari rounded out the field in ninth place with a time of 23.33 seconds representing her country with pride.
